BAE believe that within 50 years, one of their aircraft could use an "atmospheric lens" to observe people from very long distances using the Earth's atmosphere as a tool.

The lasers temporarily change the Earth's atmosphere into magnifying glass structures which can alter light and radio signals.

This means users can listen into radio signals for thousands of miles.

A spokesperson said: "Within the next 50 years, scientists at BAE Systems believe that battlefield commanders could deploy a new type of directed energy laser and lens system, called a Laser Developed Atmospheric Lens which is capable of enhancing commanders’ ability to observe adversaries’ activities over much greater distances than existing sensors."

"Working with some of the best scientific minds in the UK, we’re able to incorporate emerging and disruptive technologies and evolve the landscape of potential military technologies in ways that, five or ten years ago, many would never have dreamed possible," added Professor Nick Colosimo, BAE Systems’ Futurist and Technologist.